Biography 291: Some memories at Barua Sir's home - C

 We girls attended school in the morning shift, so we used to go to math coaching in the afternoon. Generally, boys had school in the afternoon shift, so they would go to Borua Sir's home for math coaching either in the morning or evening.

One day, the mother of a student (who was Borua Sir's student) came to visit him. She said her son wanted to leave the school because he didn't want to attend the afternoon shift. He wanted to go to a school where he could study in the morning shift. We girls were surprised. I told her that the afternoon shift is the best because it leaves the whole morning free for studying or other activities. Why would anyone have a problem attending the afternoon class?

The woman said she didn't understand the situation very well. Sir asked her to call her son. The boy was waiting outside and didn't want to face the Sir. He entered with his mother. Sir held his hair and asked, "Why is your hair so long? Next time, before you come here, cut your hair." Then he asked the boy, "What's your problem?" but he couldn't say much.

Borua Sir told the mother that her son is just trying to skip studying, and advised him to focus on his studies rather than changing schools. I noticed that the boy was very scared of the sir. He also agreed to stay at the school. The mother said that her son always manipulates her because she's not educated enough. Sir said, "No worries. I will take care of him." I could clearly see the boy was frightened and ready to obey whatever Sir said.

Biography 268: Studying in a madrasa.

 Sifat studied in a Madrasa (Islamic Study Centre) for a couple of days or months. As far as I understand, my mom wanted her son to stay and study in Madrasa for a couple of years to learn Islam and follow them correctly.

He went there without making any trouble. But we (sisters and father) were very worried about him. Will he eat properly, will he be beaten up by older students or teachers, can he stay without family, will he get proper study to join the mainstream study, etc again.

But when he came home on the weekend, it seemed he was enjoying himself there. Though the stories he was telling us didn't make us happy. He said he doesn't want to put on a mosquito net because he wakes up in the morning when mosquitoes bite too much. That's kind of an alarm clock for him. We were shocked. He started sitting on the floor. We said, it's dirty, sit on the chair. He said, it's ok, over there; he used to sit on the floor mostly. Sifat became very thin in a short period.

He told us some good things and funny things too. He used to eat food with the principal at their house. He had good food. Sifat also told us that the principal's son-in-law used to stay at his (principal's) house. He liked to during rooh afjah every now and then. He (Son in law) asked his mother-in-law to make him the Sarbat of Rooh afjah by saying, "Amma, Sorbot than (mother, give me a glass of Sharbat)." At the end of the month the students started counting the bottles of rooh afjah to understand how much that son in law drank. They (students) used to make fun of him (the son in law).

I don't know why; maybe my father put pressure on her. Because after some time, my mom decided to bring Sifat back home. We got relieved from the tension.

I am not saying their study process is bad. But it's a very tough life. They run the whole institute on a very low budget and are traditionally very strict. Things can be improved.

Biography 164: Misconception about the term Geography

When I heard about Geography, I thought it would be mainly about landscapes, countries, etc. I can do a study on it. In my first class at the University, I understood, I was totally wrong. The same day in my second class, I understood completely that I was in the wrong program. I started thinking about how to escape from this program.

I tried and failed. Because of this mentality, my score needed to improve in the first year. In the second year, I was trying to understand how to engage with this study mentally; again, I could have gotten better marks. In my third year, I started trying to improve myself to get some effects.

In my MSc (Post Graduate), I really tried to come back. Not bad, 1 mark behind in getting a first-class degree. I was happy; at least I did better than my previous scores.

At this present time, I am proud to have studied Geography& Environment (Urban Planning).

Biography 154: Choose Geography

 In Bangladesh (And other countries, too), from class 9 (Grade 09) to HSC (Grade 12), we studied mainly in two sections. Science and Humanities. My parents and older sister decided that I should study Humanities. Because I was weak in Math. I followed their instruction and studied in Humanities till HSC.

Then after passing HSC, I thought, why don't I choose subjects myself. Because then I had to select a topic for my studies at the University. My mom wanted me to study Law. She said the way I put logic and argue indicates that I will be good as a lawyer. She wanted a lawyer in the family.

I wanted to study abroad. But I thought my dad was in a government job (In those days, government job holders had significantly less pay). So, he won't be able to bear my costs. So, I dropped that idea. But I like to travel a lot. I heard in the Univesity that only the Geography department takes students to study tours yearly. That was the only way to travel to different places every year.

No matter what my family wanted, I decided to study Geography.

Biography 150: To complete studying on time.

When I was a kid, I always had to attend 7/8 classes per day in school. All most all courses are used to give us homework or to do some study (memorizing). No matter how hard I tried (which I did 4/5 days in my whole school life), I couldn't finish more than one homework in a day. Because, whatever I do, I do it well. So, I gave lots of time and concentration on one subject and could never find time to complete other homework. (And maybe I am too slow also, now a day became slowest). And I had plenty of work to do daily, including playing with toys.

Now you will ask me, then how did I manage in school. The answer is that I am always very attentive in class. So, when teachers teach us in class, I try my best to understand it. So, in exams, I mostly wrote from my understanding.

And I was a fortunate girl too. (Only Bangladeshi people will understand this) For example, in the SSC exam preparation, students memorized several essays to find one familiar to the exam. But as I told you, I didn't have time for that. So, I read only one (After trying my best). And that I found in our question paper. Even I was surprised to see my luck.

Now a day, I have started my student life again. And I found myself in the same position. I am feeling difficulty completing all assignments. I am trying hard. Rest Allah knows.

Study after admitting in a school.

Here Shafeen was 1 year and 8 months old and very happy to do his study.

It is very common scenario that before going to school, children cries to go to school. They like to study and do many more things. But you know, we parents shouldn’t be happy to see these, because, this attitude is temporary. The character of study will come out when he will admit in a school.

Shafeen liked to study before going to school. He is now in “Play group”. Still he likes his school very much. And every day I had to fight with him to bring him home from school. The way he cries, people will say a kidnaper is taking a boy from school. At home he tells me that he wants to do the homework and study. But when I sit with him to complete those, he doesn’t felt any energy to do so. Every day I spend one hour to make him believe that there is a thing, called study. And he spends that time to test my patient. How long I can tolerate him with jumping and not writing and drawing where he should write. Oh Allah help me.

Encouraging words in study

Tameem and Shafeen are studying together. Shafeen was 1 year and 2 months old.

Shafeen (my son) wanted to study with his cousin bro Tameem always. To encourage Tameem in study his mom (my elder sister) told him, Shafeen is faster in learning than you. Shafeen is taking less time in memorizing your study things. I don’t how much it encouraged Tameem on study, but one thing happen, after that Tameem declared, he will not study if Shafeen stays in that room. From then Tameem never study with Shafeen.